Current Events in Mideast-Africa

From BBC [excerpt]

Stealth Fighters Make Combat Debut as U.S. Bombs Syria (War is Boring)

This should certainly impress the Iranians with our prowess: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_...y_ships_collide Buddha

From DefenseNews Algeria Plans To Return 15 Fighters to Russia: Report AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE Published: 18 Feb 16:40 EST (11:40 GMT) MOSCOW - Algeria wants to return 15 fighter jets it bought from Russia because of their poor quality, the Kommersant daily reported on Feb. 18, citing an official from Russia's state United Aerospace Corporation. The official said Russia was proposing to take back the MiG-29 jets, which were delivered to Algeria in 2006 and 2007, but only if Algeria bought more modern and expensive planes such as the MiG-29M2 or the MiG-35. Kommersant quoted another Russian official from the energy and industry ministry saying that a deal on…

Here Are All The Details The Pentagon Just Released Regarding Its Missile Attack On Syria (Updated) (The War Zone)

From Defense Aerospace U.S. Postpones Defense Meetings with Pakistan (Source: US Department of Defense; issued Nov 5, 2007) BEIJING --- The United States is watching the developing situation in Pakistan closely and will review all assistance programs to the country, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said here today. “Pakistan is a country of great strategic importance to the United States and a key partner in the war on terror,” the secretary said during a news conference at the Chinese Ministry of National Defense. Gates spoke after meeting with Chinese Minister of National Defense Gen. Cao Gangchuan. Gates said the United States urges Pakistani Pres…

Only technical and operative considerations in this topic, I hope. It sembles a lot of rumours about the use of a stealty variant of the H-60 Black Hawk: Photos (of the strange helo wreckrage and some corpses): http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/20...326&index=0 Bill Sweetman comments: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=...&id=8112975 Also, developing my little scenario, I don't see very clear this point about helicopter ranges and helicopter loads made public after: http://www.timesleader.com/news/Inside__ls...05-04-2011.html Two full loaded Blackhawk with the team and assault gear and weapons. Perhaps from Bagram (I think the Speci…

Live BBC feed The government have taken down the bulk of Egypt's internet; this looks like a massive crackdown.

Syria's Uncertain Air Defense Capabilities (CSIS)

Al Madinah-class frigate (1985+) destroyed by Houthis near Yemen (Active defenses Crotale NG and 40mm Dardo Compact): https://twitter.com/NatDefFor/status/826127312190111746?s=04

Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/B7D...90095339D5A.htm Thursday 17 February 2005, 16:54 Makka Time, 13:54 GMT An Iranian official has said a key agreement with Russia on the return of spent nuclear fuel will be signed by the end of the month. The deal will pave the way for Iran's first nuclear power plant. Asadollah Sabouri, a deputy head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation, was quoted by state television as saying that the agreement would allow Russia to provide Bushehr's power reactor with fuel, and would be signed on 26 February. The signing of the agreement, which obliges Iran to return spent nuclear fuel to Russia, will …

Iran Intercepts Cargo Ship, US Moves to Respond (DefenseNews)

I saw some vague news reports today of a new indiguous Iranian DDG? Anyone more in tune with this?

From Defense Aerospace Israel - F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft (Source US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; dated Sept. 29, issued Sept. 30, 2008) WASHINGTON --- On September 26, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $15.2 billion. The Government of Israel has requested a possible sale of an initial 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft with an option to purchase at a later date an additional 50…

CV32: It occurs to me that the utility of a hot line is probably proportional to the expectation of logic and rational thought on the other end of the line. From DefenseNews [excerpt]

Iranian ships 'harass' U.S. Navy, officials say CNN report here

From Navy Times San Antonio laid up in Bahrain By Andrew Scutro - Staff writer Posted : Friday Nov 7, 2008 9:43:49 EST NORFOLK, Va. — The troubled amphibious transport dock San Antonio — in the middle of its first deployment — has been forced to undergo two weeks of maintenance in Bahrain due to leaks in its lube oil piping system, Navy officials said. “They had a scheduled port visit,” said Lt. Nate Christensen, spokesman for 5th Fleet in Bahrain. “They’re in port for two weeks for a maintenance availability on some lube oil deficiencies. It’s related to the diesel generators.” Pat Dolan, a spokeswoman at Naval Sea Systems Command, confirmed that the pr…

Well, this is interesting ... From DefenseNews [emphasis mine]

This is both a "Congratulations" moment and an "Oh Dear" one...

From DefenseNews Iran Hits Back After Ejection From Arms Fair agence france-presse Published: 30 Apr 16:33 EDT (12:33 GMT) KUALA LUMPUR - Iran on April 30 expressed regret it had been thrown out of an international arms fair last week even after removing items deemed to break United Nations resolutions. Iran's display at the fair in Kuala Lumpur was shut down when Malaysian deputy premier Najib Razak said that the host nation would not allow "lethal and offensive equipment in violation of the U.N. resolutions" to be put on show. On April 30 Iran complained that organizers of the Defense Services Asia exhibition had refused to let its display re-open desp…